To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, Disney has announced the debut of Soarin’ Across America.
Over the years, Soarin’ has gone through many different iterations. The ride originally debuted in 2001 at Disney California Adventure as Soarin’ Over California, taking guests through some of California’s most iconic landscapes. In 2016, both Disney World and Disneyland’s versions of the ride switched to Soarin’ Around the World, taking guests over the globe to see some of the world’s most beautiful sites. And now, each ride will undergo a new iteration in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Soarin’ Across America: An Overview
In 2026, the Walt Disney Company will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States with a new initiative called Disney Celebrates America. The celebration will kick off Veterans Day 2025, continuing through the weekend of July 4, 2026. Among the changes, Disney has announced a new iteration of Soarin’, called Soarin’ Across America.
The new immersive flight experience will be coming to both Disney California Adventure and EPCOT in Walt Disney World. The updated ride will take guests on a journey across America, highlighting some of the country’s most iconic cityscapes and natural beauty.
The announcement was made with none other than Patrick Warbuton, who guests will instantly recognize as the star of the pre-show for Soarin’, introducing guests to the journey they’re about to go on.
Scene-by-Scene Breakdown of Soarin’ Across America
Curious where Soarin’ Across America will take you? You’ll board the same iconic Soarin’ hang-gliding flight simulator attraction as always, with a mechanical lift system of three rows of seats and a massive 80-foot-tall concave domed movie screen. But while previous iterations have you taken you through California landmarks, as well as across the globe, this version takes you through the sites of the full United States.
Soarin’ Across America Pre-Show and Locations
Locations You’ll Visit on Soarin’ Across America
- Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the Artemis II rocket is taking off
- New York City, where you’ll fly over the Statue of Liberty and take in the skyline
- Maine, where you’ll see the Portland Head Light lighthouse
- Washington, D.C., including the United States Capitol, National Mall, and Washington Monument
- Louisiana, where you’ll see a swamp airboat on the Louisiana Bayou
- Ozark Mountains and Branson Scenic Railway
- Mount Rushmore, heading toward Custer State Park in South Dakota
- Colorado River
- The Grand Canyon
- Denali National Park in Alaska
- Waikiki, Hawaii
- Los Angeles, where you’ll see Griffith Observatory, the LA skyline, and the Hollywood sign
- EPCOT in the Walt Disney World version, or Disneyland in the Disney California Adventure version
The pre-show begins wth a familiar face, as Patrick Warburton returns as your captain, giving a new semi-quincentennial spiel that segues into the original Soarin’ Around the World safety instructions. The new experience is five minutes long, beginning with the Artemis II rocket taking off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. From there, you’ll fly over the Statue of Liberty with a view of the New York City skyline, before heading along the shores of Maine at the Portland Head Light lighthouse.
After that, you’ll pass over the United States Capitol dome in Washington, D.C., heading along the National Mall toward the Washington Monument. Then, a swamp airboat can be viewed along the Louisiana bayou, before you approach the Branson Scenic Railway, heading towards a bridge in the Ozark Mountains. This is followed by the Mount Rushmore National Monument, leading into a video of a rancher on horseback wrangling buffalo at Custer State Park in South Dakota.
You’ll continue to head west along the Colorado River near Guano Point on the West Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, before watching a moose wade through water in Alaska’s Denali National Park.
Then you head south along the shoreline of Waikiki, Hawaii, over surfers and sailboats with Diamond Head in the distance. Finally, you’ll head over to Griffith Observatory, offering a nighttime view of the Los Angeles skyline and the Hollywood sign. In Disneyland’s version, you’ll end in Disneyland, while the Disney World version ends with EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth illuminated in red, white, and blue.
EPCOT Queue Experience
At EPCOT, guests waiting to board the attraction will also encounter an updated queue experience called the Soarin’ Challenge Across America. Created in collaboration with National Geographic, the interactive trivia experience will test guests’ knowledge of the United States through fun facts and photography pulled from National Geographic archives and publications like 50 States and 5,000 Ideas.
The updated queue is intended to further tie the attraction into Disney Celebrates America, the company-wide initiative honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States through new entertainment, storytelling, and park experiences across Disney brands.
When Will Soarin’ Across America Open?
Soarin’ Across America debuted at EPCOT first, opening to guests on Memorial Day 2026 (May 26). It then opened at California Adventure on July 2, 2026.
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the all-new airborne adventure titled Soarin’ Across America opens on July 2, 2026, in Disney California Adventure park in Anaheim, Calif., and features new patriotic décor displayed throughout the queue. This immersive flight experience takes guests on a breathtaking journey, highlighting some of the country’s natural beauty and iconic cityscapes. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Thank you to Disney for hosting us during the Kids Rule Summer Media Event.
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